The Legend of Zelda: The Missing Link

Chapter 1: The Hero's Departure

"Are you sure you have to go?" Zelda took a step towards the hero, the one who had just saved her entire kingdom, clad in green and armed with the most powerful sword in the land.

Link nodded, the tip of his long, pointed green hat bouncing up just slightly. He felt sure of his decisions, though at the same time, he also felt a tinge of deja vu, as if he had left Hyrule in search of an invaluable friend in a past incarnation. He ignored the feeling, focusing instead on the trip to come. He needed to restore the Mirror of Twilight, and return to the Twilight Realm so he could be reunited with it's princess, Midna. He longed for the days that him and Midna would travel across Hyrule, collecting pieces of the Fused Shadow, a helmet that contained a massive amount of power bestowed by the Goddesses of Hyrule and placed into the mask by the ancient people of the Twilight Realm, and the Mirror of Twilight, the entrance to the Twilight Realm. The two had used both the Fused Shadow and the Master Sword, also known as the Blade of Evil's Bane, to defeat Ganondorf, the king of thieves known as the Gerudo, in his attempt to take Hyrule for his own.

"Well, it seems that I cannot sway your descision. If that be the case, then I wish you good luck on your journey, and I ask that you write to me often. Do not put yourself in any situation that you cannot handle, and remember that the people of Hyrule—including myself—will be eargly awaiting your return. Go forth, and do not falter."

The last sentance of hers caught Link off-guard. He could still clearly remember when the Hero's Shade, a strange, almost supernatural being that taught some of the best sword skills to Link as he continued on his journey to save Hyrule from Ganondorf, spoke those same words to him. He wondered briefly if Zelda and the Hero's Shade were connected in some way; if maybe she had heard those words before, possibly even from him.

Link kneeled before the queen, and bowed his head. Zelda pulled her rapier out of its sheath at her side and carefully tapped his right shoulder, then his left, giving him her blessings and hope.

He returned to a standing position and then bowed, smiling as he straigtened. Zelda grinned back, even though it was against royal family law to show affection towards one who was not also a member of the royal family.

Zelda watched from her throne as the hero started to walk towards the large main doors of the Zelda's portion of the castle, and she felt a single tear fall down her cheek as the last of green disappeared behind the wooden doors.